Theater seat



Feb. 12, 1929.

c. A. Lewis THEATER SEAT FIled -Jan. 51, 1928 glam/6 Q.

//VVf/VTO 5% Wm.

Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

ITED STATES? oLAnnn A. LEWIS, 'oirnons'ron,rei ns,

THEATER SEAT.

Application filed January 31, 1928. Serial No. 250,766.

My invention relates to seats such as are employed in theaters, show houses, raised platforms in restaurants, and the like. It is adapted for use particularly in the balconies of show houses, although, as will be obvious, i. adapted for other similar uses. The seat i- .apted for use particularly with the type of theater :eztructure disclosed in my co-pending application for patent, Serial No. 24:0,802', filed December 17th, 1927.

In this type of theater, the number of balconies is greatly increased but the width of each separate balcony is sui'iicient only for one or two seats between the aisle and the rail of the balcony.

It is an object of this invention to provide a seat adapted to accommodate two people which is so arranged asto place both occupants of the seat in a position where they will have a clear and unobstructed view of the stage. It is also desired toprovide a small table or armrest in front of the occupants of the seat upon which objects maybe placed or which may serve as a table upon which refreshments may be served. It is desired to so construct the seat that the occupants may easily seat themselves in proper position therein, so that they may easily look overthe rail at the inner side of the seat, and to provide against any danger of accidental falling of the occupant over the rail of the balcony. It is also an object to economizespace as far as possible but to still allow sufiicient room for the comfort of the users of the seats.

Referring to the drawing herew1th, 1

is a side view of the seats, said view taken ap proximately on the linej11 of Fig.2. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the seats and the'rail taken on the line 22 of Fig. 8. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a. plurality of balconies, showing the arrangements of the seats therein, said new being taken on the plane 3 of Fig. 2. Like numerals of reference are employed to designate like parts-1n all the VlGWS.

In the type of theater structure disclosed in a my co-pending application, previously referred to, the balcony arrangement involves the use of narrow balconies withan aisle adjacent thereto, the'seats on each balcony being placed below the, balcony, above, as will be noted from Fig. 3. The balcony 1, as shown in this figure, comprises an inner side wall 2 with anouter rail 3. Adjacent the inher wall 2 is an aisle indicated at 4 which is of sudicient height to allow a patron to walk on, involves t .eforming of the seats on ne inclined forwardly from the rail. The bacl: oi the seat 6 is curved from the all 3 forwardly so as to place the occupants of the seat in position looking toward the The bench portion 7 of the seat is of suilithe seats, which 'contitutes theprmcipal feature of my lIlV8R-' cient width to provide a comfortable.sup,-.

port, the end ofthe seatadjacent the aisle having an outer side 8 which is parallel with the aisle, the forward end 9 being extended on a line approximately perpendicular to the aisle and the seat is thenrounded inwardly. at 10 to provide clearance between the forward end 10 and the rear 11 of the seat in front. This gives sufficient clearancefor the theater patron toseat himself upon thesupporting portion 7 facing towardthe aisle and to then move-around into the desired position in the seat in'an obvious manner. The forward side of the seat 12 is rounded to'conform to the curvature of the baclr 6 of the seat, leaving, a

somewhat, triangular space between the for ward side of theseat and therear of the ad- 1' acont forward seat.

The triangularspace in front of the seat and adjacent the rail may be used to provide a table or shelf This table,'as shown in Fig. 3, is set within the inner portion of the;

rail at 14, and also in asimilar position be neath the upper rail of the seat in front. This will provide a. substantial support for the table and it is contemplated that the edge ofthe table will overliethe forward edge of the seat by a small margin, as indicated in Fig. 2. The table or shelf 13 serves the {tClClltlOnul purpose of bracing the backmeinber of the seat to the rail and is thus substantially a part of theseat. Electric push buttons 15 on the rail adjacent the table may be providedto call the waiter when refreshments of any kin d are desired. L -J a 1 F -Each bench or seat is supported from beheath by a forward upright leg 17 and a rearward post or support 18. These supports will be inwardly away from the aisle and will not interfere with the seating of the patron as he moves into the seat toward the rail and adjacent the table.

As previously stated, this structure is devised particularly to provide a seat for two persons adjacent the rail of the balcony wherein they may both be seated comfortably and have a view over the ail oi the w". directly toward the stage sothat th will not be obstructed by parties in t in front of theni or above them. it obvious that with the seats inclined to i in the manner shown, rclativeto the "ail, tl will. be suilicient room for two persons a out crowding. The use of the table 13 in t e iect forward angle of the seat will ha the or of a support upon which the patron m his elbows and assume a comfortable p ...i-, tion looking over the rail and directly at the stage. In assun'iing such a position he is 1 to past the occupants of the seat in ableo front of him and interferes in no way with the view of the occupants of the seat behind him. T he party adjacen the rail may have a. view directly over the rail and will be enabled to lean slightly toward the rail so as not to obstruct the view of Le otier occupant of the seat.

lVith the construction of the seat balcony ari'angeiiient here shown, each patron of: the show will be enabled l what is substantiallyia box seat with a view of the stage at an angle which ena ales him to place hiinseli comfortably in his seat and enjoy the show. He is also en to move to or out oi, is seat into the nd toother parts of the house withoutinterfering with the occupants of other seats. There 's he "further advantage that the ientsot the seats adja cent the aisle enables e occupant of he seat to receive ie'tre 'inents at any time without interfering; v. i I. s lpporting table 13 provides a support for he retreshnicnts l eingr served. an also serves 0 prevent any likelihood of th ie patron over the rail as niigl occur.

angement will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

itahinp; oi

the. ,ccupants ot the adjacent seats and t 1 .t otheruefe l i vi nile I have shown and described a seat other suhstantially ma le, it is the ieral shape and relation of the seats to one anot i andto the rail that constitutes an import feature of novelty. 1 do not wish ther tor to be limited to the exact form of the sea" sl'iown further than comes within the scope of the claims hermvith, it being clear that thostructure may be varied soiuewl'iat with out departing from the spirit of the invention.

\Vhat I claim as new is:

The further advantages of this ari. In a theater or the like, a balco i including a side rail, an aisle, a row of seats between said ail and said aisle, each seat beto said aisle and oi r-a i'icieiit length to accomlllOdtlt two p. and a supporting table mounted upoi rail and the rearward side of the In a theater or the like. a in tween 1 l balcony inchu each so id aisle, and of conin odate two per.- ;ons i an a inately trl ular supportingtahle upon said l said sea".

A seat oi the charaatcr dc 'ibed inciuding a side rail. :1 row o s ats rail each seat being of inodate two person ported at one end up b cin g supor; said rail. the seats being curvedfolwaidly to cause the occu pants to "lace toward said rail at an acute.

thereto. I t of he character descr oed in cl said i rail,

seat being or suilici nt width to. 5060111- inodate two persons, said seats being supinto forwardly facing )osition said seat. A ludmg a.

each

= actor described i i ii. of seats along said rail.

nt width to accomniodat "so2is, said suits lacing supported atone nd upon said rai l, the seats be ingcurved t ly to cause the occupant; to face tow f rail at an acute angle thereto. in iorting' taliil attwhing each e cl eter described includ- I a row ot seats along said rail, '1 "flfl ffi 31. e

eacu seat wing; or so ncicn Wllrt i to accommodate two persons, said seats being supported at one end upon said raihthe seats being ci-iii'ved forwardly to cause the occupants thereto, and means in back of Mich seat acting to protect the occupants of the rearward seat from falling over said rail.

In testimony whereof l hereunto sigrature this 28 day of Jain ary,.-A. 998.

GLAUD-E A. the is;

i to acccnh toward said railat an acute angle 

